8 tasty beer tours around Oregon

Oregonians are known for indulging in wine tours, sipping and sniffing our way through the state’s several established wine regions. It’s a fun way to get to know our local wine, but why don’t we do the same thing with beer?

Beer regions aren’t organized like wine regions – climate and geology matter little – but this being Oregon, it’s not hard to map out areas where good breweries are bunched, making a tour easy to do. Based on my travels and our collective beer knowledge at The Oregonian, I’ve identified eight areas to make a day of tasting, hitting up small-town operations and urban hot spots.

The nice thing about Oregon beer is that, like wine, you can find a wide variety of styles in one area. On the Oregon Coast, for example, you’ll find an excellent assortment of stouts, sours and ales within close range. Want a juicy IPA? You got it. In the mood for a barrel-aged barley wine? You better believe there’s some of that too.

It should go without saying, but please tour responsibly. These things are much more fun with a designated driver behind the wheel, and a place to stay nearby.

Breakside Brewing

John M. Vincent/The Oregonian

PORTLAND

Nicknamed “Beervana,” Portland is without a doubt one of the best places in the country to drink beer. There are more breweries here than your gut could ever handle in one go, so pick a few or else make this a multi-day excursion. There are obviously a lot of great breweries we’ve left out, so consider exploring and trying out new places.

Base Camp Brewing CompanyThe outdoor adventurer’s brewery, Base Camp has a solid S’more Stout and Harvest Saison farmhouse ale, among others. Breakside BrewingBreakside seems to have mastered the IPA, though it’s rare to find a dud in their lineup. Locations are found in northwest, northeast and southeast Portland. Cascade Brewing The Cascade Brewing Barrel House pours a wide and unique selection of barrel-aged sours. They may not be for everybody, but for the sour fan this is a must.

Culmination BrewingCulmination is founded on the goal of sustainable brewing, and the result is an assortment of ancient styles like krieks, tripels and wild ales.

Ecliptic BrewingEcliptic is one of the rare breweries that seems to do no wrong, pouring cosmic-themed pints like the Zenith Grapefruit Gose and Capella Porter.